Ypsilanti community members can expect to witness a tale of heartbreak, jealousy and tragedy this month with Brevity Shakespeare’s production of “Othello," opening Nov. 13, 2025.
Brevity Shakespeare is an Ypsilanti-based community theater company whose mission statement is “Shakespeare for all," which is apparent in its unique productions of Shakespeare plays such as “Hamlet," “The Taming of the Shrew” and now, “Othello." Though the title alone is enough to excite Shakespeare fanatics, that is not the only goal of Brevity Shakespeare’s productions.
Karl Sikkenga founded Brevity Shakespeare in 2019 after working with middle and high school students on Shakespeare productions. The scripts were shortened and edited in a way that made them more understandable for a general audience while still telling a meaningful story, and Sikkenga wanted to see how these productions would market to the adult community.
Brevity Shakespeare doesn’t just want to appeal to Shakespeare lovers; those who roll their eyes when they hear “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” also have a place in the audience.
“That’s why we’re called Brevity Shakespeare; these scripts are all distilled from their original length, trying to cut out the language that is super unfamiliar," Sikkenga said.
The productions are akin to a feature film, both in price and in length, as a way to make the stories more accessible and attract a diverse audience.
“I want the people who can’t stand Shakespeare," Sikkenga said with a laugh.
Brevity Shakespeare opened its first show, “Hamlet,” in 2019, setting its sights on being a diverse community group that is welcoming of all voices and backgrounds.
“A community theater company, in my view, is a civic organization," Sikkenga said.
For Brevity Shakespeare, that means partnering with other organizations, like Petie the Dog Productions, a performing arts theater in Ypsilanti that will host “Othello” on the coming weekends.
“Another piece of it, for us, is to make sure that the audience sees a cast on stage that reflects what the community looks like," Sikkenga said. “Ypsilanti is an ethnically and economically diverse town. … It’s very dynamic.”
A unique part about this production of “Othello” is its setting. The story is originally set in Europe in the late 16th century, but this rendition takes place in California in 1881. This change in setting was an intentional choice made by Sikkenga and other members of the creative process, and it is meant to highlight the story’s themes as they relate to the Ypsilanti community.
“Visually, it opened up all kinds of doors," Sekkenga said about the amended setting.
“And thematically, 'Othello' grapples with race,” he added. “It’s important in our company that we have more than the usual number of black and brown actors on stage."
After selling out five of the six shows of “The Taming of the Shrew” from this past summer, those involved at Brevity Shakespeare are hoping for another successful turnout in the coming weekends and are looking forward to future productions in the Ypsilanti community.
“Othello” opens Nov. 13, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at the Riverside Arts Center, located at 76 N. Huron St. in Ypsilanti. Tickets are available online at brevityshakes.org.
